Will we still exist in 2011? Yes. As others have noted the AFL wants two clubs in SA and falling crowds or not, we are the best non-Crow option.
If we suddenly wrapped up tomorrow where would these theoretical 30k a week supporters supposedly out there come from? 5 double crow often like to pretend there's some mystical bunch of supporters who hate both Port and the Crows, don't want to support any of the other AFL clubs, yet are passionate about AFL footy and want to get along every week.

However thats distinct from the club is right now exactly where the SANFL want them - cash cow still on match day, yet not a threat to their precious golden child on-field. Unless Port somehow gets out from being under the control of the SANFL we are a good chance to head down the route of not being able/allowed to pay all the cap. Which as seen elsewhere is a cycle we don't want to get on - can't get/retain enough quality players, leading to lacklustre results on-field, leading to lack of cash, leading to still can't pay it and so on.
The AFL really needs to step in and help us by at the least diluting the SANFL ownership to less then 50%. We can't ever do what's best for the club when 50% of the board work for the major provider of services we require. Off-field football is business and what business not explicitly owned by another (as the crows effectively are by the SANFL) would in a blind fit put one board member up that has such a conflict of interest against them, let alone half the board?!
As Vlad comes across as disliking Port, he'll do the minimum to ensure we will survive and not risk us going under and him losing selling 8 games a week to tv networks. We aren't and won't ever be a major selling point in any rights deal, and that rather then a fair competition is what he cares about.
So I fully expect we are ****ed for years to come unless a White Knight rich supporter plans to rescue the club, ala Pratt at Carlton. Though if I was that rich (at least dreams are free), even though I love the club, the thought that anything I put in enriches Whicker and co. as much, if not more then it helps the club would be enough to put me off doing it anyway.
If we suddenly wrapped up tomorrow where would these theoretical 30k a week supporters supposedly out there come from? 5 double crow often like to pretend there's some mystical bunch of supporters who hate both Port and the Crows, don't want to support any of the other AFL clubs, yet are passionate about AFL footy and want to get along every week.
However thats distinct from the club is right now exactly where the SANFL want them - cash cow still on match day, yet not a threat to their precious golden child on-field. Unless Port somehow gets out from being under the control of the SANFL we are a good chance to head down the route of not being able/allowed to pay all the cap. Which as seen elsewhere is a cycle we don't want to get on - can't get/retain enough quality players, leading to lacklustre results on-field, leading to lack of cash, leading to still can't pay it and so on.
The AFL really needs to step in and help us by at the least diluting the SANFL ownership to less then 50%. We can't ever do what's best for the club when 50% of the board work for the major provider of services we require. Off-field football is business and what business not explicitly owned by another (as the crows effectively are by the SANFL) would in a blind fit put one board member up that has such a conflict of interest against them, let alone half the board?!
As Vlad comes across as disliking Port, he'll do the minimum to ensure we will survive and not risk us going under and him losing selling 8 games a week to tv networks. We aren't and won't ever be a major selling point in any rights deal, and that rather then a fair competition is what he cares about.
So I fully expect we are ****ed for years to come unless a White Knight rich supporter plans to rescue the club, ala Pratt at Carlton. Though if I was that rich (at least dreams are free), even though I love the club, the thought that anything I put in enriches Whicker and co. as much, if not more then it helps the club would be enough to put me off doing it anyway.

